'In God We Trust' to be displayed in all Louisiana public schools by law

The law, passed last year, requires all Louisiana public schools display the motto in their buildings by the start of the 2019 school year.

Author:
Associated Press, WWL Staff

Published:
5:39 AM CDT May 31, 2018

Updated:
1:37 AM CDT August 12, 2019

NEW ORLEANS — "In God We Trust" will be displayed in every public school in Louisiana starting this school year, as a bill passed unanimously and signed into law by Governor John Bel Edwards last year comes to fruition in the 2019-2020 school year.

Louisiana Senate Bill 244 passed through the state House of Representatives and Senate without argument and was signed into law in May of 2018.

The law, sponsored by Sen. Regina Barrow (D-East Baton Rouge), requires that all Louisiana public schools display the motto "In God We Trust" in their buildings. The bill also requires schools to teach students about the motto.

The new requirements were set to go into effect for fall of the 2019-2020 school year, which has already started for some schools around the state.

Before it was passed into law, Barrow last year said the bill was necessary because "it's really important that young people understand the patriotic history" of the country.

The bill easily sailed through the House and Senate with no opposition during the regular session.